I Can See Your Combat Power

Those who knelt were the renowned figures of Xiling, all above the age of forty. Yet, Tang Luo accepted their deep bows with no false modesty, knowing how significant his current actions were.

In his previous life, he was an avid reader of history, and he would never forget a line from the Song Dynasty historian Zhuang Chao’s “Chicken Rib Compilation,” describing the chaos brought by the Jin tribe.

…The price of human flesh, cheaper than dogs and pigs. A robust one not exceeding fifteen thousand, an entire body brutally turned into wax… elderly, thin men called ‘firewood,’ young, hairless women named ‘mutton soup,’ children referred to as ‘bone broth’; also known commonly as ‘two-legged sheep’…

The screams and flesh of millions of people ultimately condensed into a few ordinary words in the history books. Since then, Tang Luo could never face the words “great famine, cannibalism” in historical texts.

Disasters and calamities were the most common things documented in history books. What was seen as a golden age was nothing more than a small, partial, picturesque scene. In his previous life, whenever he came across such scenes in the books, he would feel indignant, thinking, “If I had lived during those times, I would have tried to save the people from fire and water.”

Whether it was by fate or a self-fulfilling prophecy, his idea surprisingly sprung to life. But now, if time could reverse, Tang Luo would rather live in the monotonously dull Xiling City, gradually building up the number one spiritual power in Xiling.

However, since the event had already happened, there was no sense pondering about ‘what-ifs.’ He was determined to ensure the survival of the people of Xiling, not because he held accountable, but because he had the ability and the will to do so.

Preventing this human tragedy from unfolding before his eyes, Tang Luo felt a sense of accomplishment.

Upon his return to Xiling, his first order was punishment. A curfew of three days equivalated to starving for three days, yet the followers wearing headbands had no resistance.

After all, those who had not become followers had already lost their qualification to receive food aid. Upon consideration, feeling starved for three days, the followers’ hearts could balance.

Human nature was often like that. Although one may be miserable, as long as they saw someone worse off, they would feel different.

After receiving the order, Gong Zheng found Lv Liang, the former head of the Xiling security bureau. Together, they borrowed several hundred mortal transformed from several Xiling elites, making the Red Cloud Mountain security team five hundred mortals strong.

Each mortal led a squad of three to five ordinary warriors, forming a security team, patrolling on various peaks of Red Cloud Mountain.

Perhaps Gong Zheng’s performance in the food aid work was not very satisfactory, but in finding rogues and capturing people, he was quite capable, especially with Lv Liang’s cooperation.

After all, he was originally the leader of a gang, the understanding of the mentality of the bottom layers was just accurate. In just two days, he captured dozens of spies and hundreds of lawbreakers wandering around the various peaks.

The severed heads hanging in the locust forest, like a ghost under the green shade, deterred all those who tried to oppress the good people because of their strong bodies.

He did this firstly to make up for his foolish mistakes during the relief distribution, and secondly, because he felt he had discerned Tang Luo’s deep intentions.

The followers, confined for three days; the free people, deprived of qualifications.

The punishment seemed vastly different, but there was a grey area between the two. Every follower started as a free person who put on a headscarf. Even though Tang Luo had stripped the free people of their qualification to receive food, he didn’t say they couldn’t put on a headband to become a follower.

Upon this realization, it was as if the seven orifices of Gong Zheng had been enlightened. He immediately understood Tang Luo’s intentions.

Punishment was certainly punishment, but it didn’t mean there wasn’t a way out for the people. As long as they put on a headscarf and sold themselves into servitude, they could continue to enjoy food aid.

Having guessed this much, Gong Zheng thought about how to help. Who among the free people on Red Cloud Mountain were the least willing to sell themselves into servitude? Weren’t these the practitioners with a modicum of cultivation?

Most of them had cultivation above the level of introspection, and some of the outstanding ones even had the power of mortal transformation. Strong and agile, they could traverse the dangerous mountains as if walking on flat ground as long as they weren’t directly caught in a raging torrent.

The vast Red Cloud Mountain range had many cliffs rarely visited by humans. These people could always find food from nowhere to sustain themselves. Even after winter, the powerful and agile ones could survive by exploiting good people and stealing.

If they could live freely, why would they want to sell themselves into servitude? Gong Zheng perceived the thoughts of these people. In cooperation with Lv Liang, they began to use heavy penalties to enforce the law!

“The fruits on the cliff belong to Tang Luo, the lord of Red Cloud Mountain. Take, and it’s considered theft; steal, and be immediately decapitated!” “The people wearing headbands are Tang Luo’s followers, the rightful people of Red Cloud. Harass, and it’s considered banditry; bandits, and be immediately decapitated!”

“The caves opened up around the central peak of Red Cloud Mountain and several humps nearby are only for the followers to live. The free people must build their own camp on camel humps outside of the three mountains! Using the most brutal laws, Gong Zheng forced the group of Xiling free people into the only path – wearing the headband and selling themselves into servitude. There was resistance, of course, but the heads of those resisters had been hung on the branches of the locust forest, informing the later arrivals on the choice they should make.

Therefore, in just a few days, the collection work of the followers had progressed significantly. Gong Zheng’s proudest daily task was reporting to Tang Luo at the Du family’s territory. Tang Luo’s laissez-faire allowed Gong Zheng to be more confident in his judgment of the situation.

On the night of October 15th

The last night of the three-day confinement, Gong Zheng came to Tang Luo’s office in Du family’s land, making a routine report: “Master, after three days of collecting, more than 60 percent of the free people in Red Cloud Mountain have chosen to become followers, amounting to over 1.2 million people. I have divided them into two batches, gathering in the middle peak of Red Cloud Mountain, waiting for the master’s instructions tomorrow. Also, we have captured several hundred special Wind Media from Mi clan and other families. They are now being held in a secret prison. Master, what do you suggest their treatment should be?”

“You did a good job.” Tang Luo casually praised as he checked out a case file in his hand.

Overjoyed, Gong Zheng continued, “It’s not all my merit. We owe a lot these days to Lv Liang’s strategy. He’s a real talent, and I wanted to recommend him to you, Master.”

Lv Liang was the former boss of the Xiling County security bureau. He had been involved a lot with the Righteous Gang. Gong Zheng used to see him as a fat and lazy idiot. But after a few days together, he saw Lv Liang’s remarkable abilities.

The special Wind Media of the Mi clan were experts in disguises. Mixed within in a crowd, there was no way to detect them. Although Tang Luo had previously mentioned that many of Mi clan’s Wind Media were disguised as followers on Red Cloud Mountain, Gong Zheng couldn’t find even one spy before Lv Liang took action. But Lv Liang walked around the hump and identified three spies. Upon apprehension, they indeed have concealing techniques and cultivation power.

Since then, Gong Zheng had an unwavering belief in his judgment. In a few days, they had captured dozens of special Wind Media. He knew it was better to recommend Lv Liang directly instead of waiting for Tang Luo to doubt his exceptional performance. He still had this bit of wit..

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